Device for converting motion



mm 1 m 6 2 RU e 0 H g R BOUCHARD I DEVICE FOR CONVERTING MOTION Nov. 28,1950 Filed Nov. 24, 1945 Nov. 28, 1950 Filed Nov. 24, 1945 G. R-BOUCHARD DEVICE FOR CONVERTING MOTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTUR GASTONROBERT BOUCHARD ATTORNEYS MN; a

Nov. 28, 1950 a, R. BOQCHARD DEVICE FOR CONVERTING mono:

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ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 28, 1950 DEVICE FOR CONVERTING MOTION GastonRobert Bouchard, Saint Germain en Laye, France Application November 24,1945, Serial No. 630,624 In France July 4, 1942 Section 1, Public Law690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires July 4, 1962 9 Claims. 1

The invention relates to piston machines, that is to say machinesincluding several parallel cylinder-piston groups distributed about themain shaft and connected therewith through a wabbler assembly or thelike and suitable link means, with a view to transforming thelongitudinal efforts of the pistons into a torque applied to said shaft(case of a motor) or vice versa (case of a pump, compressor, etc.), thisinvention being more especially, but not exclusively, concerned withexplosion engines for automobile vehicles.

The chief object of my invention is to provide a machine of this typewhich is adapted to comply, better than those of the same type made upto the present time, with the various requirements of practice, and,more particularly, which permits of obtaining a variation of the strokeof the pistons while maintaining a predetermined value of the ratio ofcompressionv Embodiments of my invention will be herein after described,with reference to the appended drawings, given merely by way of example,and in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are diagrammatical views showing respectively inlongitudinal section and in transverse section on the line IIII of Fig.l, a four cylinder engine made according to the invention.

Fig. 3 is a side view (with portions in section) of certain elements ofthe machine shown by Figs. 1 and 2, but in a different characteristicrelative position.

Figs. 4 and 5 are views, similar to Fig. 3, showing the same elementsmade according to two different modifications.

Figs. 6 and 7 show, respectively in vertical section on the line VIVI ofFig. '7 and in vertical section on the line VIIVII of Fig. 6, anotherembodiment of the oscillating plate included in machines of the kind inquestion.

Frame l, of hollow cylindrical shape, carries at one end thereof aplurality of hollow parts, parallel or substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of said frame and adapted to form cylinders 2distributed about said axis.

Each of these cylinders contains a piston 3 connected, through anordinary connecting rod 4, with a wabbler assembly which will be moreexplicitly described hereinaftenthis device being housed in a space 5provided in frame I and in which said plate can oscillate, about atheoretical axis 5 (Fig. 1) parallel to the axes of the crank pins 4 ofthe connecting rods 4 when pistons 3 work in cylinders 2.

Said wabbler assembly is constituted by two annular pieces or rings 1and 8 connected together by pivots E2, the outer ring 1 carrying thecrank pins 4 of connecting rods 4. The cylinder-piston units occupypositions such with respect to oscillation axis 6 that, in the case of afour cylinder engine, two of these units form a group, either with acommon crank pin 4 or not, located on one side of this axis e and thetwo other units form a second group, either with a common crank pin 5 ornot, symmetrically located on the other side of said axis 5.

The outer ring I is mounted, through the intermediate of two pivots 9perpendicular to pivots i2 and materializing theoretical axis 6, on aforkshaped piece It) housed in a central recess H of frame 5 providedbetween cylinders 2. Piece it can slide axially in recess H while beingprevented from rotating about its longitudinal axis through any knownconventional means (not shown) such as grooves, reaction arms, twinmounting, and so on. Therefore there is a Cardan connection between thecrank pins 4 of connecting rods 4 and inner ring 8, on the one hand, andbetween said inner ring 8 and piece iii, on the other hand, whichensures freedom of movement of this ring 3 in all directions.

In the embodiment shown by Figs. 1 to 3, I provide, in the end of frameI opposed to that in which are fitted cylinders 2, a central housing 53,with a thrust bearing 5 for the main shaft M of the engine, this shaftbeing longitudinally fixed with respect to said frame and carrying amongother things, a fly-wheel I5 In the end of shaft 14 which projects intorecess 5, I provide a cylindrical axial housing for an intermediateshaft i8, which is axially movable with respect to main shaft M butangularly connected therewith on the one hand through a transverse pin I1 slidable in a slot is of intermediate shaft 18 (or any otherequivalent means, such as grooves) and/or, on the other hand, through alink system to be hereinafter described.

On intermediate shaft l8, and at the place where is located wabblerassembly 1-8 I mount a sleeve-shaped support 28, the inner ring 8 ofsaid wabbler assembly bearing on said support 223 through theintermediate of needle or roller bearings 2! or antifriction bearings.

Support 29 is connected, on the one hand, with intermediate shaft itthrough pivots 20 (Figs. 2 and 3), whereby this support 28 shares in therotation movement of intermediate shaft l8, and, on the other hand,through arm 21, pin 22, and links 23, with the transverse pin l? whichconnectstogether shafts l8 and I4. This connection 20 2fl2i--22-23l1constitutes the link system above referred to.

When piece H3 is caused to slide in one direction or the other withrespect to frame I, it produces a translatory displacement of the wholeof wabbler assembly L-Gin the same direction since ring I is connectedto piece It through pivots 9. Such a displacement simultaneouslyproduces a modification of the inclination of support 2 3 and wabblerassembly l-8, since said support 29 is connected through links 23 withthe longitudinally fixed pin ll. As wabbler assembly -8 is connectedwith pistons 3 through connecting rods 4, said pistons follow thedisplacements of the wabbler assembly and I thus obtain an engine inwhich the strokes of the pistons are simultaneously variable accordin toan equal degree for all the pistons and the positions of the pistonscalled upper dead points follow a law determined as a function of thestroke, which permits of obtaining a ratio of compression of welldefined value.

On Figs. 1 and 3, support 2i) has been shown in two differentcharacteristic positions for which its inclinations, with respect to themain shaft, respectively have minimum and maximum values, correspondingto the minimum and maximum strokes of the pistons. In order to permitangular displacement of support 29 with respect to intermediate shaft i8while maintaining a radial dimension of the whole as small as possible,I provide in said shaft notches 2A in which certain portions of saidsupport 2i] can engage when the latter is very much inclined (Fig. 3).

Fig. 4 shows a modification of the arrangement above described,according to which main shaft [4 is housed in the central cavity H ofthe frame between the motor cylinders. In this case, the rotationalconnection between main shaft i i and intermediate shaft !8 is alsoobtained through a link system constituted by a pin [1 carried by arm 26rigid with shaft 54, and connecting rods 23 pivoted, through pins 2-2,to arms 27 carried by the variable inclination support 20.

I may also, as shown by Fig. 5, adopt an arrangement analogous to thatof Fig. 3 but in which links 23 and pin ll are replaced by two arms 2??rigid with support 2t, and the free ends of which are pivotallyconnected, at 29', to a sleeve 3d slidable along a guide 3i, suitablyinclinecl and mounted on shaft it so as to turn together therewith andwith intermediate shaft Any other means for ensuring in response to anaxial displacement of fork-shaped piece it, both a longitudinaldisplacement of intermedi ate shaft [8 and support 23 and an inclinationof said support, and consequently of wabbler assembly l-t', with anamplitude in direct relation to that of the axial displacement of saidpiece iii, could be utilized instead of the arrangements above indicatedby way of example.

In order to obtain the axial displacement of fork shaped piece it, I mayhave recourse to various mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic,electromechanic or other means generally called servo-control means, andan example of which is shown by Fig. 1.

Piece IQ is rigid with a tubular piece 38, freely engaged in the centralcavity H of the frame. In the cavity 33 of this piece, I fit a joint 35carried by another tubular piece 35 rigid with frame I and, the diameterof which is substantially smaller than that of the first whereby I form,between pieces ('35 and 36, an annular interval 3d closed at one end byjoint 35 and at he other one by a joint 37 carried by tubular piece 38.

When a pressure (or a depression) is caused to act in annular interval3d,, limited by joints 4 35 and 31, through the intermediate of a liquidor gaseous fluid admitted through externally controlled valve means, Iobtain the desired axial displacement of joint 31, acting as a hydraulicor pneumatic piston, together with sleeve 33 and piece it this pressure(or depression) being counter-balanced by the reaction exerted bypistons 3 and, if need be, by the intervention of one or severalantagonistic springs, or by means of a double action arrangementbringing into play, for instance, a third joint (not shown) which wouldthen be established at the place designated by 33. A bearing 3% isinterposed between the sleeve 38 that is to be axially displaced andintermediate shaft E8, in order to hold this shaft in proper axialposition.

I might also obtain the desired axial displacements of fork-shaped pieceIll and, consequently, of theoretical axis 6, by providing thisfork-shaped piece with screw-thread, or rack, means cooperating withscrew threads or a toothed wheel, the control of which, either from adistancec or not, would be easily accessible and operable even duringoperation of the en- A rod 32, rigid with shaft I8, is utilized forcontrolling the means for distributing fluid to the cylinders 22 of theengine, this distribution being for instance effected through anysuitable means, for instance ordinary valves, rotary valves, perforatedbarrels, etc., not shown by the drawings because their disclosure is notnecessary for a good understanding of the object of the invention.However, it should be noted that it is possible, owing to the possibletranslation of intermediate shaft iii, to obtain a variation of theangular relative position (with respect to intermediate shaft 18 actingas crankshaft) of the cam or cams utilized for distribution control. Itis also possible to vary the working outline of these cams due to thetranslatory movement thereof when intermediate shaft is is displaced inone direction or the other.

On Figs. 6 and 7, I have shown, by way of example, the arrangement of anoscillating or wabbler assembly, analogous to that of Figs. 1 to 3, inthe case of an engine including not. four cylinders but eight cylindersdistributed by pairs in a symmetrical manner with respect to the motorshaft or to the crankshaft.

In this case the support 20 of the plate also carries, through theintermediate of roller bearings 2! or the like, an inner ring 8pivotally carried, through horizontal pivots 12 by the vertical sides ofa rectangular frame 1 similar to the annular piece 1 of Figs. 1 and 2,these sides also carrying the crank pins 4 of the connecting rods 4 ofthe upper and lower pairs of cylinders. This inner ring 8 is alsopivotally connected, through vertical pivots I2 with the horizontalsides of a second rectangular frame 1 which also carries the crank pin 4of the connecting rods of the twopairs of lateral cylinders.

The horizontal sides of frame, 1 are mounted, through pivots 5 on asleeve I0 similar to the fork-shaped piece it] of Figs. 1 and 2 and thevertical sides of frame I are pivotally connected, through, pivots 9 tothe same sleeve I9 I thus obtain the desired interrelation of the twolink, systems above described through. which the efforts of the pistonsof the eight cylinders are transmitted to the support 28 of theoscillating plate. In order to avoid, interference between frames 1 and7- in, the course of their relative movements, it is; necessary to givethem a suiteasily accessible and operable even during the operation ofthe engine.

In the case of the oscillation of plate l-3 about a movable axis 6, thecylinders must be distributed in ,diametrally opposed or symmetricallymounted pairs with respect to this axis.

Finally, it should be noted that the invention is applicable with thesame effects or advantages to steam engines or receiving machines, suchas pumps, compressors, pump and motor units forming hydraulictransmissions, etc.

In all cases, the piston stroke adjustment control may be manual,automatic, or semi-automatic, and this control may be analogous to thosealready proposed for the regulation, either automatic or not, of thegear-boxes of engines or of some machine-tools.

The piston machine according to my invention permits of varying, at willand in a simple manner, the stroke of the pistons while obtaining forthe ratio of compression a value which is substantially constant ordetermined according to a suitably established law which permits, amongother things, of obtaining a linear velocity of the pistons-and,consequently, a powerwhich is substantially constant within certainlimits of speed of revolution, thus ensuring a high torque at low speedsunder good conditions of efficiency. With the construction according tomy invention I therefore obtain, by means of the machine itself andthrough variation of stroke of its pistons, the same effect as with avariable speed transmission which is generally considered as forming anecessary adjunction to an explosion engine. More particularly in thecase of the application of the invention to compressors, I obtain theadvantage that it is possible to adjust the displacement of the pistonor pistons as a function of the output that is required, thus avoidingthe working on no load which results from the hit or miss adjustment. 7

Of course, the invention applies to the case in which, the relativemovement between the main shaft and the support of wabbler assemblybeing maintained, the main shaft and the pieces that are carried by itform a fixed or non-rotary system while the frame and the cylinders withall the parts associated therewith are given a movement of rotationabout said fixed system.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosedwhat I deem to be practical and efficient embodiments of the presentinvention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limitedthereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, dispositionand form of the parts without departing from the principle of thepresent invention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanyingclaims.

What I claim is:

1. A machine which comprises, in combination, a shaft, at least twocylinder and piston units parallel to said shaft, two concentric ringspivoted to each other about a common diameter thereof, at least twoconnecting rods for said pistons respectively, pivoted to the outer ringabout axes perpendicular to said diameter, a part longitudinallyslidable with respect to said shaft along an axis fixed in position withrespect to said cylinder, said part being pivotally connected with saidouter ring about an axis perpendicular to said common diameter at themiddle point thereof, a shaft element slidably keyed to said shaft andjournalled in said part to be axially movable together therewith, abearing for the inner ring pivotally connected with said shaft elementabout an axis perpendicular to said shaft and passing through the pointof intersection of said shaft axis and said common diameter, means forproducing longitudinal displacements of said part with respect to saidshaft, and link means between said bearing and said shaft for modifyingthe inclination of said bearing with respect to the axis of said shaftas a function of the longitudinal position of said part with respect tosaid shaft.

2. A machine which comprises, in combination, a frame, a shaftjournalled in said frame, at least two cylinder and piston units carriedby said frame parallel to the axis of said shaft and on either sidethereof, two concentric rings pivoted to each other about a commondiameter thereof, at least two connecting rods for said pistonsrespectively, pivoted to the outer ring about axes parallel to adirection perpendicular both to said diameter and to the shaft axis,said frame forming a central longitudinal recess between said piston andcylinder units, at least one part longitudinally slidable in said recesscoaxially with respect to said shaft adapted to be prevented fromrotating with respect to said frame about the axis of said shaft, theouter ring being pivotally connected with said part about an axisparallel to the above mentioned direction and passing through the pointof intersection of said shaft axis and said common diameter, a shaftelement slidably keyed on said shaft and axially movable together withsaid part, a bearing for the inner ring pivoted to said shaft elementabout an axis perpendicular to the shaft axis and passing through saidpoint of intersection, means for producing longitudinal displacements ofsaid. part with respect to said shaft, and link means between saidbearing and said shaft for modifying the in clination of said bearingwith respect to the axis of said shaft as a function of the longitudinalposition of said part with respect to said shaft.

3. A machine which comprises, in combination, a main shaft, a pluralityof cylinder and piston units parallel to said shaft, means, including awabbler assembly and connecting rods interposed between said pistons andsaid wabbler assembly, for transforming into one another thereciprocating longitudinal motion of said pistons with respect to theircylinders and the rotary motion of said shaft, a shaft element slidablykeyed on said main shaft, a sleeve coaxial with said wabbler assemblymounted to act a a journal for said wabbler assembly, said sleeve beingpivoted to said shaft element about an axis perpendicular thereto, meansfor producing longitudinal dis-- placements of said sleeve with respectto said shaft, an arm rigid with said main shaft extendinglongitudinally therefrom, an arm extending from said sleevelongitudinally therefrom and a link pivoted at its ends to said armsrespectively, about axes at right angles to the axis of said shaft, formodifying the inclination of said sleeve with respect to the axis ofsaid shaft as a func 1. tion. of the longitudinal position of saidsleeve with respect to said shaft;

1. A machine which comprises, in combination, a main shaft, a pluralityof cylinder and piston units parallel to' said. shaft, means, includinga wabbler assembly and connecting rods interposed between said pistonsand said wabbler assembly, for transforming into one another thereciproeating longitudinal motion of said pistons with respect to theircylinders and the rotary motion of said shaft, a shaft element slidablykeyed on said main shaft, a sleeve coaxial with said wabbler assemblymounted to ast as a journal for said wabbler assembly, said sleeve beingpivoted to said shaft element about an axis perpendicular thereto, meansfor producing longitudinal displacements of said sleeve with respect tosaid shaft, a guide carried by said main shaft obliquely to the axisthereof, a piece slidable along said guide and an arm' extendinglongitudinally from said sleeve pivoted to said slidable piece formodifying the inclination of said sleeve with respect to the axis ofsaid shaft as a function of the longitudinal position of said sleevewith respect to said shaft;

5. A machine which comprises, in combination, a frame, a shaftjournalled in said frame, at least two cylinder and piston units carriedby said frame parallel to the axis of said shaft and oneither sidethereof, two concentric rings pivoted to each other about a commondiameter thereof, at least two connecting rods for saidpiS- tonsrespectively, pivoted to the outer ring about axes parallel to adirection perpendicular both to said diameter and to the shaft axis,said frame forminga central longitudinal recess between said piston andcylinder units, at least one part longitudinally slidable in said recesscoaxially with respect to said shaft adapted to be prevented fromrotating with respect. to saidv frame about the axis of said shaft, theouter ring being pivotally connected with said part about an axisparallel to the above mentioned direction and passing through the pointof intersection of said shaft axis and said common diameter", a shaftelement slidably keyed on said shaft and axially movable together withsaid part, a bearing for the inner ring pivoted to said shaft elementabout an axis perpendicular to the shaft axis and passing through saidpoint of intersection, fluid pressure means for producing longitudinaldisplacements of said part with respect to said shaft, and link meansbetween said bearing and said shaft for modifying the inclination ofsaid bearing with respect to the axis of said shaft as a function of thelongitudinal position of said part with respect to said shaft.

6. A machine which comprises, in combination, a shaft, at least twocylinder and piston units parallel to said shaft, two concentric ringspivoted to each other about a common diameter thereof, at least twoconnecting rods for said pistons respectively, pivoted to the outer ringabout axes perpendicular to said diameter, a shaft element slida-blykeyed on said main shaft, a sleeve pivoted to said shaft element aboutan axis per pendicular thereto mounted to act as a journal for the innerring, a part longitudinally slidable with respect to said shaft along anaxis fixed with respect to said cylinders, said part being pivotallyconnected with said outer ring about an axis perpendicular to saidcommon diameter of said rings, means for producing longitudinaldisplacements of said part with respect to said shaft, and link meansbetween said sleeve and said. shaft for to said shaft.

7. A machine which comprises, in combination, a frame, a shaftjournalled in said frame, at least two cylinder and piston units carriedby said frame, with the axes of said cylinders parallel to the axis ofsaid shaft and on opposite sides thereof respectively, a ring journalledwith respect to said shaft about an axis intersecting the shaftaxisobliquely thereto, a second ring pivoted to the first one about a commondiameter of said two rings at right angles to said oblique axis andpassing through the intersection of said obliqueaxis and said shaftaxis, said second ring bein pivotally mounted with respect to said frameabout an axis perpendicular to both said shaft axis and said commondiameter at their point of intersection, and two connecting rods forsaid pistons respectively pivoted to said second mentioned ring aboutaxes parallel to the axis about which said ring is pivotally mounted insaid frame.

8. A machine which comprises, in combination, a main shaft, a pluralityof cylinder and piston units parallel to said shaft, means, including awabbler assembly and connecting rods interposed between said pistons andsaid wabbler assembly, for transforming into one another thereciproeating longitudinal motion of said pistons with respect to theircylinders and the rotary m-ction of said shaft, a shaft element slidablykeyed on said main shaft, a sleeve coaxial with saidwabbler assemblymounted to act as a journal for said wabbler assembly, said sleeve beingpivoted to said shaft element about an axis perpendicular thereto, meansfor producing longitudinal displacements of said shaft element withrespect to said main shaft, and link means between said sleeve and saidshaft for modifying the inclination of said sleeve with respect to theaxis of said shaft as a function of the longitudinal positionof' saidsleeve with respect to said shaft, said link means being located on thesame side of said wabbler assembly as said cylinders.

9. A machine which comprises, in combination, a frame, a shaftjournalled in said frame, at least two cylinder and piston units carriedby said frame, with the axes of said cylinders parallel to the axis ofsaid shaft and on opposite sides thereof respectively; a supportoperatively connected with said shaft, a ring journalled on said supportabout an axis intersecting the shaft axis obliquely thereto, a secondring pivoted to the first one about a common diameter of said two ringsat right angles to said oblique axis and passing through theintersection of said oblique axis and said shaft axis, said second ringbeing pivotally mounted with respect to said frame about an axisperpendicular to both said shaft axis and said common diameter at theirpoint of intersection, and two connecting rods for said pistonsrespectively pivoted to said second mentioned ring about axes parallelto the axis about which said ring ispivotally mounted in said frame.

GASTON ROBERT BOUCHARD.

REFERENGES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num er Name Date 1,346,672 Patton July 13, 19201,968,470 Szombothy July 31, I934

